Two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings went postward at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (September 3) to compete for their share of the $110,000 purses up for grabs, and one of the winners made track history.
Pointomygranson (American Ideal-Sangaal) went to the front and took a lead he would never relinquish en route to a five-length victory in 1:53.2 in his $55,500 division. That time was a new track record for two-year-old pacing geldings.
Marcus Miller rushed Pointomygranson off the gate and set unchallenged fractional times of :28.2 and :58. At that point, Jim Morrill Jr. had the heavily favoured Funknwaffles rolling up on the outside trying to catch the leader. But when Miller saw him coming past five-eighths, he asked his horse for more and then hung on as Pointomygranson accelerated.
Pointomygranson would not let the challenger get anywhere close to him up the backside and when they hit the stretch, he was pulling away with every stride and Miller was sitting chilly behind him. He paced his last quarter in :27 flat under wraps.
“He was real strong in the race, I couldn’t have been happier with him,” said Marcus Miller. “It was the first time I drove him, but they told me he would be good tonight and he was!”
It was the second NYSS win of the year for Pointomygranson ($7.00) and it pushed his earnings to $63,229 for owner Gold Standard Equine LLC. The winner is trained by Chris Ryder.
It was bombs away in the first $55,500 split when 30-1 Americanfirewater (American Ideal-Lucky Turn) pulled a major upset.
The 1-4 favourite, Miso Fast (Jim Morrill Jr.), had things his own way on the front end with the field in single-file behind him, cutting even fractions of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:27.3. But just when things were looking anticlimactic, Drew Monti pulled Americanfirewater from the three-hole and shot up alongside the leader in quick fashion.
Miso Fast and Americanfirewater then tore around the far turn, matching strides as they went. At the top of the lane, it was anyone’s race and after both colts were driven hard to the wire, Americanfirewater wanted it more and won by a length in 1:56.2, which was a new lifetime mark.
“When he came out of the hole, I knew he had a real shot. He was super aggressive today and you could tell right away,” said Drew Monti.
It was the first lifetime win for Americanfirewater ($62.50) and the winner’s share boosted his annual income to $54,739 for owner Rock & Roll Stable Inc. Americanfirewater is trained by Rick Dane Jr.
There were also two $15,000 divisions of the Excelsior A Series on the card.
In the first division, Rollin About (Roll With Joe-Flitabout) was a wire-to-wire winner in rein to Marcus Miller in 1:56.4 for owners Anthony Lombardi, D. Van Witzenburg and George Golemes. The winner paid $8.20.
The second division went to Percys Z Tam and Pat Lachance in 1:56.2 on the strength of a three-wide move at three-quarters. Percys Z Tam ($9.70) is owned by Z Tam Stable LLC, M & M Harness Racing LLC, Royal Flush Stable LLC and Pat LaChance, who also trains him.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday afternoon (September 5) with a special Labor Day matinee card featuring the annual driver’s bike race, which will be held after the seventh race.
(Batavia Downs)